TNT, San Mig Coffee in do-or-die showdown

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – The San Mig Super Coffee Mixers and the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters will battle for the final spot in the PBA Philippine Cup semi-finals in the do-or-die Game 3 of their quarter-finals showdown Sunday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

San Mig claimed Game 1 of the best-of-three series behind a vintage performance from PJ Simon, but TNT kept their hopes alive and forced a knockout game by taking Game 2, 82-77, last Friday.

“We’re not going to beat San Mig Coffee if we do not play good defense,” said TNT head coach Norman Black, whose wards lost to the Mixers, 83-90, in Game 1. “We can play a lot better. We just hope we have enough time to jell a little bit.”

KG Canaleta, in only his second game with TNT, scored 13 points and hit clutch triples down the stretch, while Kelly Williams contributed eight points in an emotional performance for the Texters.

Jayson Castro also turned in a brilliant game, teaming up with Canaleta on crunch time to hold off the Mixers.

Talk ‘N Text is aiming for a fourth straight crown in the Philippine Cup, while San Mig is attempting to win back-to-back titles after winning the Governors Cup in the previous season.